6. Knowledge Triangles in Dutch Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

In knowledge-based economies, long-term wealth generation depends not only on human capital and research separately but also on the complementarity between research and human capital in the creation of innovation and the feedback effects of innovation into the economy. The interaction between education, research and innovation has gained prominence with the “Knowledge Triangle” concept. In this chapter, we present an explorative study of knowledge triangles of research-education-innovation within Dutch entrepreneurial ecosystems. Knowledge triangles do not evolve in a vacuum but are part of a broader set of interdependent actors and factors that, if coordinated in an adequate way, enable entrepreneurship within a particular territory. We focus on the role of regional governance (i.e. networks and leadership) in the knowledge triangle and the entrepreneurial ecosystem more broadly. This is reflected in the main question addressed in this chapter: How is the interaction between research [knowledge] and education [talent] coordinated [by networks and leadership] to promote entrepreneurship in regional ecosystems in the Netherlands?